We made it....

The thought of traveling across the world with two small children made me want to cry but God is good and Nykolas and Mia are pretty sweet travelers...of course Benedryl helped our more active one a bit. Our biggest snag was in Nagoya, Japan...mechanical problems with the plane caused a 3-4 hour delay. Fortunately there was a great toddler playground in the airport as well as an airplane load of bored people - eager to ineract with a wee one year old. We arrived in Manila at 4:00am, as well as, miracle of all miracles...all twelve pieces of our luggage and Mia's car seat and stroller! We were in awe! Our driver met us and everything (including us) fit in the van.

Our apartment is very spacious and nice. Nykolas has plenty of running room and not so much knick knacky "no" things to get into. The apartment had been vacant and several windows had been left open so it was filthy. A wonderful lady named "Lourdes" came and cleaned like a whorling dervish. Now my little boy does not have little black feet.

So, ya know when you are wandering the halls of the local suburban mall and see a white mom with one baby in a stroller and one in a Snugli headed for the Starbucks it isn't unusual at all....well put that same woman (still headed to Starbucks, of course) in a congested, narrow, smoggy Asian street with not one caucasion in sight...yeah, no blending in here....especially with a little blue eyed boy waving at everyone who we passed by. I was proud of myself for our adventure and hopefully with time I will feel at home and not so conspicuous.

Jet lag ~ SO little boys do NOT adjust well to 12 hour time differences. His clock goes off at about 2:30am and stays off until about 4:00am or 5:00am. Then he sleeps for hours during his nap times....I get lots done during the day but not so much sleep at night. Chad says that Saturday is the day of reckoning....if Kola isn't on schedule by then Chad plans to keep him up all day just so he will sleep all night out of sheer exhaustion....I don't have the energy to wrestle with a cranky boy all day.

We hung out with the local condo crowd today at the playground. Nykolas loves all the children and Mia is the Baby Princess to all the little girls. I got asked today several times why I don't have a 'Ya-Ya'....a 'Ya-Ya' is a Nanny... there was not one mother at the playground, just a bunch of 'Ya-Ya's'......sounds too much like 'yo-yo's'....but they were very friendly to us. Nykolas is very free with his hugs and kisses - I do hope he doesn't catch something terrible from kissing anyone and everyone his size and under.

We are still working on getting DSL. As it stands I only have occasional internet access when Chad brings his computer home. I am taking pics of our place so stand by.....

Manila or bust....

Sometimes I think we must be out of our minds...dragging two small children across the globe but at the same time, I think of all the adventures my kids will experience in this short life we live! I mean, Mia and Nykolas already have what one half of the US Congress do not.....a passport! I hope they learn to love this world of ours as I do....different cultures and peoples stun me into absolute awe of our Creator.

Here we go. Tomorrow (June 23) we get on a plane in Atlanta to travel to Manila. We have friends waiting on the other side to greet us. It is so comforting that this world of ours seems to get smaller and smaller....how did the likes of Amy Carmicheal do it.....missionaries for life never to see their families or homelands again.....our sacrifice is so small. BUT it doesn't seem so small as we say 'goodbye' to our nearest and dearest. So many family and friends who adore us make leaving home like leaving your heart behind....especially as we just introduced our wee ones to everyone. This is our season though and we will delight in all God has for us.....

To Graham....

Family and Friends,
Thank you for celebrating our new family with us. We loved our time at home. The beautiful wedding of ZT and Ashley, the lake, smores, the swimming pool, the boat, the pink golf cart with cute drivers and the wondeful 'Sip and See'......we will be sure to whisper Graham praises into Nykolas and Mia's ears.... They will be looking forward to their next visit!

Pics from our visit....